The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched CBP Home, a smartphone application meant to let unauthorised immigrants leave the country voluntarily.
The project, which is part of the Trump administration’s overall immigration strategy, seeks to encourage self-deportation while conserving enforcement resources.
The software, an upgrade of the CBP One platform previously used for asylum petitions, allows users to register their intention to depart the United States willingly.
Self-deportation allows persons to avoid the legal repercussions of forced removal, potentially preserving their eligibility for future legal admission.
To quit, users must submit personal information such as a photograph, biographical details, and proof of financial resources.
According to DHS officials, this computerised tool will simplify departures, hence lowering the pressure on US immigration enforcement agents.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem portrayed the program as allowing people to leave on their own terms, adding, “The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream.”
To promote the initiative, the U.S. government has launched a $200 million domestic and international advertising campaign urging undocumented migrants to “Stay Out and Leave Now.”
The campaign aligns with the administration’s goal of restoring integrity to the immigration system and prioritising enforcement against individuals deemed security threats.
While the administration presents CBP Home as a humane alternative to detention and forced deportation, immigration experts remain cautious about its potential impact.
The app is now available for free on mobile application stores, with automatic updates provided to existing CBP One users. As the U.S. government continues to refine its immigration poll.
